Written Answers Nos. 154-160
154. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in terms of the recruitment of clerical officers in the public service, if candidates are still being drawn from the panel established from the clerical officer recruitment campaign 2014; his plans for a new clerical officer recruitment campaign in 2016 ; if candidates will then no longer be drawn from the 2014 panel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11056/16]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, recruitment to the Civil Service is regulated by the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004. The Act established the Public Appointments Service (PAS) as the centralised recruitment body for the Civil and Public Service.
I have been informed by the PAS that assignments of candidates from the Clerical Officer 2014 campaign is ongoing. Assignments will continue to be made from this panel until a panel from the new campaign is established. It is proposed to advertise a new CO campaign before the end of Q2 2016 and it is anticipated that a panel of candidates from this campaign will be available by Q4.
155. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in the context of a recent announcement, to extend the seasonal opening hours of a national park (details supplied).in County Mayo. [11067/16]
View answerMy Department is responsible for over 60,000 hectares of diverse landscape within our six National Parks and over 18,000 hectares within our statutory Nature Reserves. All of our National Parks are open to the public all year round.
It is estimated that over 2 million visitors visit our National Parks every year. Visitors can independently explore the parks, or do so as part of guided walks or take part in the many educational programmes run by the National Parks and Wildlife Service. To encourage and maximise use of these facilities, access is free of charge in all cases. Information on public access to the National Parks and Nature Reserves and their scientific significance can be found on my Department’s National Parks and Wildlife Service website at www.npws.ie.
Within the constraints imposed by current economic conditions, I am continuing to invest in visitor facilities in parks and nature reserves to maximise their sustainable use and enjoyment. To this end, and building on previous investment in this area, my Department is working on proposals to further develop facilities for visitors such as walking and cycling routes, enhanced signage and interpretation.
In terms of access to the visitor centre, as distinct from the National Park, at the location referred to by the Deputy, this aspect is contingent on available staffing levels and are the subject of ongoing consideration in light of the overall business needs and within the pay frameworks in place at the time. Any temporary posts that arise from time to time are advertised in the local media and/or my Department’s website at www.ahg.gov.ie/en/Heritage. While the visitor centre at this National Park is open on a seasonal basis from March to October, the mountain boardwalk and trails within the National Park are easily accessible over the winter months.
Our National Parks and Nature Reserves are there for all to enjoy and their locations around the country give everyone easy access to areas of unrivalled natural rugged beauty. It has been, and continues to be, my intention to facilitate, to the greatest extent possible, public access and appropriate visitor use in these parks and reserves. Such access and use must, of course, be consistent with the ethos of the National Parks as natural places of peace and tranquillity set in scenic landscapes, as well as being compatible with the conservation and biodiversity considerations that are of necessity associated with the management of heritage properties. For example, National Parks and Nature Reserves are largely covered by designations under the EU Birds and Habitats Directives and all activities within these sites must be consistent with the requirements of those Directives.
156. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of cataract operations (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10970/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
157. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of persons on the orthodontic waiting list who have been screened through the schools programme but who have been waiting for treatment from the beginning of 2011; if he will deal with this issue in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10972/16]
View answerThe HSE provides orthodontic treatment to those who have been assessed and referred for treatment before their 16th birthday. Patients are assessed by the HSE Orthodontic Service under the modified Index of Treatment Need. Patients with the greatest level of need are provided with treatment by the HSE. At the end of Q1 2016 1,229 patients had been waiting over four years for treatment. Following a national procurement process, a panel of independent practitioners is currently being contracted by the HSE to provide treatment for certain categories of misalignment. The practitioners will be under contract over the next three years, with consideration of an extension to four years. This initiative will especially focus on those waiting for four years or longer. It is expected that this initiative will have a positive impact on waiting times.
In addition, a pilot scheme in the Dublin North East area (DNE), which involves up-skilling staff to work as orthodontic therapists is currently underway. A dental hygienist and a dental nurse qualified as orthodontic therapists in September 2015 and are now working in the HSE under the supervision of specialist orthodontists. The scheme is currently undergoing an evaluation, which includes consideration of how the scheme is affecting waiting lists. Figures are currently being collated and early indications are positive. It is planned to extend the scheme after the evaluation has been completed.
158. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health if he will compile and make public a list of locations for automated external defibrillators; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10982/16]
View answerI am glad to advise the Deputy that one of the means to help improve health outcomes in this area is through the expansion of the National First Response Network. Community first responder groups comprise this national network. These are people from local communities who are trained in basic life support and the use of defibrillators that attend a potentially life threatening emergency in their area. They are then able to provide an early intervention in situations such as heart attack or cardiac arrest by providing, among other things, resuscitation and defibrillation.
Cardiac First Responders (CFR) Ireland, launched in 2015, is the national umbrella organisation for Community First Responders Groups. CFR Ireland is supported by the National Ambulance Service, Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council and the Centre for Emergency Medical Science UCD. There are currently 135 Community First Responder groups linked to the National Ambulance Service National Emergency Operations Centre. If an emergency 999/112 call for cardiac arrest, choking, chest pain or breathing difficulties is made to the National Ambulance Service in an area where a CFR group is established, the on-duty CFR member gets a text from the National Ambulance Service at the same time that an ambulance is despatched with location and call details. The First Responder then goes straight to the scene and administers initial care (defibrillation if required) until the National Ambulance Service Emergency resources arrive.
This national initiative provides an opportunity to extend care for cardiac events. In addition, the development of a national Automated External Defibrillator (AED) register is under initial consideration.
159. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health why children who have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and who have previously received support from Enable Ireland have to go through the process of being on waiting lists without being able to access services upon transfer to the Health Service Executive provided services on their sixth birthday; if he will reform this process.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10983/16]
View answer160. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health why a child (details supplied) has to be put on a waiting list for speech and language services and occupational therapy services by the Health Service Executive despite having a formal diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder and having previously been in receipt of such services by Enable Ireland prior to the sixth birthday. [10984/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 159 and 160 together.
The Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for A Partnership Government, which is guided by two principles: equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.
Improving access to therapy services for children in primary care and in disability services is a particular priority for the Government. Building on additional investment in recent years, funding of €8m is being provided to the HSE in 2016 to expand the provision of Speech and Language Therapy in primary care and the further development of early intervention therapy services under the Progressing Disabilities Programme.
Within this context, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy in relation to this specific case and issue. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
